the empty bell
a contemplative sanctuary
Welcome! The Empty Bell is a physical and online sanctuary for the study and practice of Christian meditation and prayer. Our purpose is to learn about the history and practice of the Christian contemplative way as rooted in the Gospels, and to explore its common ground with other ancient Wisdom teachings. We give special attention to the Christian-Buddhist dialogue, to artistic expression of spiritual insight, and to how our spiritual awareness motivates and guides stewardship of our bio-diverse natural world.
Dr. Jonas’s Latest Book:
My Dear Far-Nearness is a ground-breaking exploration of the Holy Trinity as three dimensions of spiritual awareness. The book’s title is a name for God used by the 14th century mystic, Marguerite Porete. The Holy One is both near and far, because God has no location. God is not in any one place in time or space, and God is both inside and outside of us. This new book is Dr. Jonas’ reflection on 50 years of spiritual exploration, wondering, “What exactly is the Holy Trinity,” and “how can we access the inner life of the Trinity in our spiritual and everyday awareness?”
Write a Review on Amazon or anywhere!
If you enjoyed My Dear Far-Nearness and would like to recommend it to others, please write a customer review.
Look for a different shakuhachi piece on each page of this website. All of them are played by Jonas. Press the play button to the left to listen.
Honshirabé – “origin investigation”
read more about this piece
Featured Talks & Videos
The 2016 Spirit Matters Talk interview about the Empty Bell vision
The 2022 Spirit Matters Talk interview about Dr. Jonas’ new book, “My Dear Far-Nearness: The Holy Trinity as Spiritual Practice.”
The first Via Lumen interview: The Christ Within: Awakening Jesus’ Non-Dual Interpersonal Consciousness
The second Via Luman interview: The Christ Within: Awakening Jesus’ Non-Dual Interpersonal Consciousness
Presentation and Q&A by Dr. Robert Jonas Aging: Meditation as an Emotional and Spiritual Resource Northampton Neighbors Speakers Series
Upcoming Events…
Jonas interviews Dana Sawyer, author of The Perennial Philosophy Reloaded, A Guide for the Mystically Inclined, and biographer of Aldous Huxley and Huston Smith on Zoom. Dr. Sawyer teaches courses in philosophy and world religions, with an emphasis on Asian religions. His areas of expertise and research are Hindu asceticism, Tibetan Buddhism, and the perennial
Philip Goldberg has studied the world’s spiritual traditions for more than 50 years, as a practitioner, teacher, and author. His essays have appeared in numerous publications, and he has authored or coauthored more than 25 books, including Roadsigns on the Spiritual Path; the award-winning American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation,